MYBROOME NOW
Sunday, July 19, 2026
From the MyBroome News Room
TOP STORY
From NewsXR: U.S.-Iran War Escalates After Two American Service Members Killed in Jordan
The U.S.-Iran war entered a more dangerous phase this weekend after two American service members were killed and another was reported missing following an Iranian missile and drone attack on U.S. forces in Jordan. The deaths bring the reported number of U.S. service members killed in the Iran war to 16, according to The Associated Press.
U.S. Central Command responded with another round of strikes inside Iran, targeting facilities connected to coastal surveillance, air defense, maritime capabilities, missiles and drones. Reuters reported that the latest U.S. strikes were intended to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and punish IRGC forces tied to the Jordan attack.
Iranian officials also said U.S. strikes hit the under-construction Darkhovin nuclear power plant in southwestern Iran. That claim was reported by Reuters and other outlets, while Tehran condemned the strike as a violation of international rules governing nuclear infrastructure.
The conflict is also spreading across the region. Kuwait reported another strike on power and water infrastructure, with officials saying a power and desalination facility was damaged in an Iranian attack. The State Department has issued a worldwide caution advising Americans to exercise increased caution, warning that groups supportive of Iran may target U.S. interests overseas or locations associated with Americans.
For families in Broome County, this remains a global story with local consequences. A wider war in the Middle East can affect fuel prices, shipping, markets, military families and the cost of everyday goods. NewsXR will continue tracking the conflict and its impact on the Southern Tier.
OTHER STORIES
Broome County Housing Crisis Continues After Hawley Street Encampment Is Dismantled
Broome County’s housing crisis remains one of the county’s defining local issues after organizers dissolved the protest encampment outside the Broome County Office Building on Hawley Street.
The encampment had lasted 24 days and began after the deadly Knights Inn fire in Endwell, which killed six people and displaced more than 50 unhoused residents who had been placed there through the Department of Social Services.
The decision to dismantle the camp came after a chaotic Broome County Legislature meeting Thursday. WSKG reported that the July 16 session devolved into chaos as residents called for housing reforms, while WBNG reported that the meeting ended early after protesters were removed from the chamber.
The broader debate now moves from the sidewalk and legislative chamber back into policy. Housing advocates have demanded immediate reforms, while county officials continue facing pressure over emergency motel placements, code enforcement, shelter capacity and long-term affordable housing needs.
Binghamton Announces New North Side Fire Station Site
Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham announced that the city plans to build its new North Side fire station on vacant lots at 419-423 Chenango Street, next to the existing station.
The proposed $10 million facility would replace a 66-year-old firehouse that city officials say is nearing the end of its operational life. The project is intended to preserve emergency response coverage along the Chenango Street corridor and modernize fire service infrastructure on the North Side.
Utility and Living Costs Continue to Pressure Local Families
The cost of living remains a major strain across Broome County, with local families facing higher housing, grocery, fuel and utility costs.
The United Way of Broome County has reported a sharp increase in calls for utility and financial assistance this year, reflecting the pressure many households are under even before fall and winter heating costs return.
Now Playing Locally
For families looking for indoor options during smoke and unsettled weather, local theaters are showing several major releases this weekend. Regal Binghamton and AMC Vestal Town Square 9 list titles including The Odyssey, Toy Story 5, Moana and Minions & Monsters among current local offerings.
PUBLIC SAFETY / ALERTS / CRIME
Salka Valerio, 41, and Brian Mcpeek, 59, both of Binghamton, were arrested after Thursday’s disturbance at the Broome County Legislature meeting. The Broome County Sheriff’s Office said Valerio was charged with obstructing governmental administration in the second degree, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, while Mcpeek was charged with obstructing governmental administration in the second degree and disorderly conduct.
Alexa McKan of the Town of Dickinson was reported arrested by sheriff’s deputies and charged with first-degree assault, a Class B felony, following a serious domestic incident investigation. MyBroome is holding this item for source confirmation before expanding beyond the charge summary.
Haley F. Eisely, 44, was taken into custody following a larceny investigation in the Town of Union. She is charged with petit larceny, obstructing governmental administration and resisting arrest.
Elijah R. Gonzalez, 29, of Endicott, was arrested after an investigation into a protective order violation inside the City of Binghamton. He is charged with second-degree criminal contempt.
Federal prosecutors announced that Robert Scott, 60, of Binghamton, was indicted on a charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine. According to federal authorities, Scott is accused of possessing more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 28 grams of crack cocaine.
A 39-year-old Endicott suspect was processed through Broome County Central Arraignment on a Class A misdemeanor count of acting in a manner injurious to a child under the age of 17. MyBroome is withholding the name under its public-safety naming standards and pending source confirmation.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
LOCAL DEVELOPMENTS & TRAFFIC
The Broome County Highway Department has scheduled roadwork beginning Monday, July 20. Drivers should prepare for minor delays connected to ditch work, culvert maintenance, blacktop repairs, guide rail repairs and county route striping.
Work areas listed in the local notice include West Chenango Road, Bunn Hill Road, Dunham Hill Road, Old Newark Valley Road, Terrace Drive, Hardie Road, Ouaquaga Road and Old Route 17. Additional work includes blacktop repairs on Twist Run Road, guide rail repairs on Nanticoke Road and paint striping across county routes.
Drivers should slow down in work zones, give highway crews room and allow extra time on rural and secondary routes.
WEATHER AND 5-DAY FORECAST
From the NewsXR Weather Center
Sunday, July 19, 2026
Binghamton and Broome County start the day mostly cloudy and cooler at about 64 degrees, with improving conditions expected through the day. Skies should gradually clear, humidity will drop, and the Southern Tier gets a calmer break after days of smoke, storms and unsettled weather.
Air Quality & Health Advisory: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued recent Air Quality Health Advisories for fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke, including Broome County within the Central New York advisory region. DEC and DOH issue those advisories when pollution levels are expected to exceed an AQI value of 100.
The main concern is PM2.5 pollution from Canadian wildfire smoke. These fine particles can travel deep into the lungs and create health risks for children, older adults, and people with asthma, COPD, heart disease or other respiratory conditions. Vulnerable residents should limit strenuous outdoor activity when haze is present.
5-Day Forecast
Sunday, July 19: Decreasing clouds, less humid. High 71, low 51.
Monday, July 20: Mostly sunny and pleasant. High 76, low 63.
Tuesday, July 21: Cloudy and humid with heavy thunderstorms possible. Storms may produce flash flooding and damaging winds. High 74, low 64.
Wednesday, July 22: Partial sunshine with a thunderstorm possible. High 71, low 54.
Thursday, July 23: Sunny and beautiful. High 74, low 56.
REGIONAL SPORTS UPDATE FROM THE NEWSXR SPORTS CENTER
The Binghamton Rumble Ponies continue their July homestand with the Akron RubberDucks after a rough Saturday night as the Southern Tier Scoop Scoundrels. Akron shut out Binghamton 11-0 and held the Rumble Ponies to two hits, with Jacob Cozart’s first-inning three-run homer setting the tone early.
Section 4 sports fans are also watching the new STAC postseason format, which eliminates semifinals and moves directly to Large School and Small School championship games. The change reshapes how local teams in Broome, Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins and surrounding counties approach the fall season.
Corning’s boys 4xMile relay team earned All-American recognition, while Horseheads’ 10-12 All-Stars continued making noise after winning the District 6 title over Corning.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Broome Bands Together returns Tuesday, July 21, with Storm Front scheduled for a free outdoor concert at Otsiningo Park from 6 to 8 p.m. The county describes the series as free and family-friendly, with concerts held Tuesday nights at Otsiningo Park.
Music in the Glen is scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, at Glendale Park in Endicott, with Simmerin Stew listed among the opening acts in the summer concert series.
Music at The Museum continues Wednesday, July 22, on the Endicott Visitors Center lawn. George W. Johnson Park’s summer concert series continues Thursday, July 23, near the carousel in Endicott. The Bundy Museum is also scheduled to host a melodic hardcore and pop punk showcase Friday evening.
Crest Fest is scheduled Friday, July 24, at Hillcrest Community Park, with neighborhood activities and fireworks expected. A Live Ponies & Sweet Treats family event is also scheduled Saturday, July 25, at Cones Ice Cream Shop with Twisted Roots Ranch.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Youth Conservation Program Highlights Local Partnership
Today’s Community Spotlight focuses on a local youth and wildlife conservation effort connecting the Southern Tier Community Center, CHOW, the Broome County Council of Churches and Ross Park Zoo.
According to community materials provided to MyBroome, children spent the past three weeks participating in a hands-on environmental literacy program centered on wildlife conservation, ecosystem health and native New York species. The program ended with a presentation inside the zoo’s education pavilion, where students shared field journals and findings with families, educators and community leaders.
The partnership also provided summer conservation camp opportunities for local students, giving many children direct access to wildlife care experts and conservation trails at Ross Park Zoo.
The program fits a larger community need: giving local youth access to science, nature, education and safe summer enrichment without making cost the barrier.
MYBROOME™ THEN – 100 YEARS AGO TODAY IN BROOME COUNTY
One hundred years ago today, on July 19, 1926, Broome County headlines reflected many of the same civic pressures still familiar today: zoning fights, public safety incidents, infrastructure needs and the growth of immigrant communities.
In one Pine Street dispute, property owners fought a proposed church-related zoning change tied to Beautiful Plain Baptist Church. In another tragic regional story, a compressed gas tank explosion connected to a root beer dispenser at Strevell’s Grocery Store in Westover severely injured several people and later turned fatal.
Local papers also carried the unusual story of a “petting party” blamed for a Ross Park-area barn fire after a careless cigarette reportedly ignited dry grass behind Morgan Road. Meanwhile, Johnson City’s Ukrainian immigrant community continued building institutions that would become part of the region’s cultural and religious landscape.
FOR OUR YOUNGER NEWS CONSUMERS SEE THE COVER PHOTO NEWS FLASH.
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